Operation Lifesaver Report
MESSAGE FROM THE OLI PRESIDENT
The 2007 regional workshops - held in Burlington, Vermont; Missoula, Montana; Salt Lake City, Utah; Asheville, North Carolina; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Duluth, Minnesota - are now part of Operation Lifesaver history. In my book, it will go down as one of the best regional years ever!
I am pleased to report that the regional workshops drew a total of 630 people, an increase of 11.5 percent from 2005 and the highest attendance since 2003. More than 110 organizations including Operation Lifesaver, its safety partners and other local companies contributed more than $130,000 in sponsorships and in-kind contributions for the six regional workshops. This year over 90 percent of all presenter trainers participated in Trainers' Day to maintain their OL certifications.
Those of you who were involved in the day-to-day planning for the regionals are no doubt relieved and happy to pass the baton to one of your fellow state coordinators next time around. If you were one of the more than 600 people who attended a regional workshop, you took advantage of a great opportunity to renew OL friendships and add new faces and information to your Operation Lifesaver experience. For OL safety partners, we greatly appreciate your support for this year's workshops, and hope you were encouraged by the enthusiasm that you saw as the workshop sessions unfolded.
It was also a special time to pay tribute to OL legends like Charlie Alonge (NY), Rick Flink (MT) and Jerry Hardesty (UT) who retired after many years of dedicated service to the organization.
On behalf of the OLI staff, I want to thank you all for your hospitality and willingness to welcome us into your planning process - and for allowing us to share new programs and projects that are underway at the National office. The regional workshops year is a special time to connect with the grassroots leaders and volunteers who make Operation Lifesaver a success.
It may be true that each regional is different, reflecting the diversity of the OL program across the country. But people everywhere rolled up their sleeves to get the most out of every session, and then joined in the spirit of fun and networking that accompanied the social events at the end of each day.
A photograph is worth a million words, so scroll down memory lane and take a moment to relive the experience.
Region 1 - Sheraton Burlington Hotel and Conference Center, Burlington, Vermont, July 8-11, 2007
Nancee Barney of Vermont Operation Lifesaver was the host state coordinator for the Region 1 Workshop, which drew 106 attendees. Highlights included speeches by Vermont Governor Jim Douglas and Federal Railroad Administration Deputy Administrator Clifford Eby (pictured below). Attendees also enjoyed a train ride on the Vermont Rail System and a dinner cruise on Lake Champlain.
(Region 1 photos by Jack McCabe, RIOL)
Seated, Left to Right: Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, FRA Deputy Administrator Cliff Eby; standing, Left to Right: Bob Emerick, VT OL, Helen Sramek, OLI, Nancee Barney, VT OL
Shandy Lam (left) and Melinda Lewis (right), the teen speakers who were the hit of the 2006 OLI Symposium in Anaheim, were on hand to inspire attendees at four of the six regionals. Here they tell the Region 1 attendees how to talk to teens about rail safety.
During the teens' presentation, attendees learn a new dance move!
Retiring NYOL State Coordinator Charlie Alonge was honored for his service to OL during the Awards Luncheon.
Attendees waiting to board the Vermont Rail System train for an evening ride, which was followed by a dinner cruise on Lake Champlain.
Nancee was presented with flowers in appreciation for her hard work on the Region 1 workshop. Left to right: Chelsea Hill, Nancee Barney, Bob Emerick
Region 3 - Crowne Plaza Resort, Asheville, North Carolina, August 5-8, 2007
Vivian Speight-Bridges of North Carolina Operation Lifesaver was the host state coordinator for this year's Region 3 Workshop, which drew 134 people. Keynote speaker Mike Glenn, pictured below, got raves from participants for his inspiring message of hope and hard work. The 2 1/2 day program covered a wide range of topics under the broad outlines of engineering, enforcement and education. Attendees also were treated to dinner and a tour of the fabulous Biltmore Estate.
(Region 3 photos by Dr. Bella Dinh-Zarr)
Mike "Stinger" Glenn, former NBA basketball star and advocate for the deaf, was the dynamic keynote speaker at the Region 3 Workshop.
Dave Doughty, a presenter from Tennessee, during a break in the sessions at the Region 3 workshop.
Attendees listen intently during a general session.
Mike Elias of FLOL and Melvin Jones, VAOL
L to R: Melinda Lewis, Shandy Lam, Wende Corcoran, Renee Lam.
Vivian Bridges (NCOL state coordinator) enjoys the group's private tour of the Biltmore Estate.
Region 4 - Inn on Lake Superior, Duluth, Minnesota, September 10-12, 2007
Erin Petersen of Minnesota Operation Lifesaver was the host state coordinator for the Region 4 Workshop, which drew 91 attendees. Following the opening reception the evening of September 10, the opening session on September 11 featured Duluth Mayor Herb. W. Bergson and an address by Helen Sramek. A full day of presentations followed, with Adolph Ojard, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, delivering the luncheon speech. Attendees also were treated to a dinner and private tour of the Great Lakes Aquarium.
The Region 4 Workshop was followed on Wednesday, September 12 by a day-long Rail Safety for Emergency Responders (RSER) training session, which was attended by approximately 20 Duluth-area firefighters and EMS personnel.
(Region 4 photos by Gordon Bowe)
Trainers from Region 4 states participated in the Trainer's Day session held prior to the Region 4 Workshop opening.
ILOL State Coordinator Chip Pew and Pat Mitchell of UP during a break in the Region 4 Workshop sessions.
Front row: Pat Mitchell, UP; Larry Green, Metra and Sheldon Slodwich, UP; Back row: Jim Tracey, WI OL State Coordinator, third from left
Front row: Tom McNamara, Metra; Leann Wallin, MN OL; Mark Jerdee, WI OL;
Back row: Jim Kveton, Commander Elmhurst, IL Police Department and 3
other Elmhurst PD officers
A view of Lake Superior from the hotel.
Super Regional Workshop - Doubletree Hotel, Little Rock, Arkansas, August 23-25, 2007
Sheryl Dudley of Arkansas Operation Lifesaver was the host state coordinator for the Super Regional Workshop, jointly planned by Region 5 and Region 6. This year's Super Regional workshop attracted 129 attendees. Highlights included a whole day devoted to presenters, a recognition luncheon with Program Development Council Chair Shelly Harshaw as mistress of ceremonies, and a dinner cruise on the Arkansas Queen riverboat. Attendees also had the option of touring Union Pacific's Downing B. Jenks repair facility or attending an Arkansas Travelers baseball game.
Sheryl Dudley of AROL and her daughter on the deck of the Arkansas Queen riverboat (Photo by Sharon Todd)
PDC Chair and NEOL State Coordinator Shelley Harshaw at the recognition luncheon (Photo by Darlene Osterhaus)
Randy Wells of BNSF receives an award for conducting the most GCCI classes in the U.S. from KSOL State Coordinator Darlene Osterhaus at the recognition luncheon (Photo by Sharon Todd)
Darlene has Matt Cowell of Missouri in handcuffs on the dinner cruise, demonstrating one way to retain presenters. (Photo by Karla Schiro)
Photo from the tour of the Downing B. Jenks repair facility in North Little Rock (Photo by Darlene Osterhaus)
Region 7 -Embassy Suites Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah, August 1-3, 2007
Vern Keeslar of Utah Operation Lifesaver was the host state coordinator for the Region 7 Workshop, which drew 75 attendees. The Region 7 workshop started off with a reception and pin-trading event. The August 2 opening session featured CBS Sports personality Craig Bolerjack. Session topics included commuter rail safety, quiet zones, working with the military, and enforcement issues. That night included a dinner and tribute to Jerry Hardesty. The August 3 sessions focused on drivers, presenters, and trespassers.
Region 7 state coordinators present Jerry Hardesty with a gift at the dinner. L to R: Doug Farley, AZOL; Zoe Richmond, CAOL; Jerry Hardesty; Rich Gent, NVOL; Vern Keeslar, UTOL.
Region 7 attendees listen to a presentation.
Melinda Lewis (l) and Shandy Lam (r) don cheerleader gear to motivate the audience during their presentation at the Region 7 Workshop.
Lee Ann Dickson of FRA makes a point during her presentation on quiet zones.
Region 8 -Holiday Inn Downtown at the Park, Missoula, Montana, July 15-18, 2007
Rick Flink of Montana Operation Lifesaver was the host state coordinator for the Region 8 workshop, which drew 95 participants and speakers. From the opening reception at the Carousel in Riverside Park to the closing barbeque dinner at Washington Ranch, the workshop kept attendees busy with lots of food, entertainment and activities over three full days. This workshop featured two presentations by Shandy Lam and Melinda Lewis, the Idaho teens, and included sessions highlighting top regional presenters, a media panel, engineering and enforcement updates.
Region 8 State Coordinators enjoy the spotlight. L to R: Claudia Howells, OROL; Darrell Real, WYOL; Chris Arvas, IDOL; Bob Boston, WAOL; Terry Weaver, NDOL; Rick Flink, MTOL.
Chris Arvas presents an appreciation award to retiring MTOL State Coordinator Rick Flink.
John and Rayne Redman and the Missoula Area Operation Lifesaver Team hosted and sponsored an outdoor barbecue, complete with Bluegrass music.
Missouri Students Help Film New OL Driver Education Video
Operation Lifesaver worked with a group of student volunteers from William Chrisman High School in Independence, Missouri during the filming of the new Driver Education video the week of October 22. The students served as actors in the seven scenes developed to demonstrate key safety elements for new drivers. The video shoot was conducted with the cooperation of Union Pacific Railroad. The video, which will include an interactive online component, will be used in driver education classes across the United States.
The filming was featured in a news story in the Independence, MO Examiner on November 1. A photo accompanying the story (see link below) was taken by the newspaper’s photographer on a side track near Independence Amtrak station as the car was crossing the tracks. The tracks were not active at the time of the shooting.
“Of course, we would have preferred a picture taken by a photographer who was not on the tracks,” says OLI Vice President-Communications Marmie Edwards, who supervised the video shoot. “However, the resulting news photo does convey the anxiety of a situation where a car seems to be caught on the tracks,” she said.
OL Reaches out to Hispanic Community
at La Raza Conference
In July, OLI was one of 200 exhibitors at the National Council of La Raza Conference in Miami, Florida. This was the first time OL participated in a major national conference to reach Hispanic audiences. The conference drew approximately 14,500 attendees, with OL volunteers reaching out to many who stopped by their booth to learn more about highway-rail safety.
California and Florida Operation Lifesaver volunteers staff a booth at the La Raza Conference. Left to right: Victor Garcia, Roxanne Henriquez, Mike Elias, Marty Jiminez, Jesus Ojeda.
Sramek Takes the OL Message to Meetings in Canada, Oregon
In addition to speaking at and attending all six of this year's OL Workshops around the U.S., OLI President Helen M. Sramek spoke at
the 19th Annual Canada Operation Lifesaver
Conference in Ottawa, Canada, and attended
the Governors Highway Safety Association conference in Portland, Oregon (where OLI staffed an informational booth). Photos from those two events are below.
Helen and Canada OL National Director Dan di Tota pose at the September Canada OL Conference.
Operation Lifesaver Oregon volunteers join OLI President Helen Sramek at the OL Booth at the Governors Highway Safety Association conference in Portland in September.
Left to right: Jeff Honeyman, David Agee, Sramek, and Zellia Pope.
2008 OL Symposium Update
Save these dates! The next Operation Lifesaver International Symposium and Training Seminars is scheduled for July 20-23, 2008, at the Cincinnati Marriott RiverCenter, located just across the river from downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.
This beautiful hotel is connected to the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. Symposium sessions and meal functions will be held in both the hotel and the convention center. The Operation Lifesaver rate is just $129 ( the same rate we paid in San Antonio in 2004). Parking and high-speed internet in the rooms are complimentary for OL Symposium attendees.
PDC Chair-Elect Ralph Mitchell and his planning committee are working on an educational and fun Symposium. One highlight - the Norfolk Southern Lawmen will be the entertainment at the closing banquet.
Listed below are some links of interest, including the hotel, the convention center, and area attractions.
More information will be coming your way soon!
Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter
Northern Kentucky Convention Center
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
Newport on the Levee (Shopping, Dining, Aquarium, Movies)
Cincinnati Reds Baseball (The Reds will be in town, playing San Diego)
Kings Island amusement park (about 33 minutes northeast of Cincinnati)
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